Carrie Soto Is Back Characters: Full List & Analysis

Who drives the story

Main characters

Carrie Soto

Tennis champion known as 'the Battle-Axe,' obsessed with her record and unloved by the crowd. She unretires at 37 to defend twenty titles, wins twenty-three, and finally lets herself be known.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Record Falls—Almost; Part 2: Wimbledon, Twenty-One; Part 3: Australia Breaks Her, France Saves Her; Part 4: Peace
Themes:: Legacy versus love; The public mask and the private woman; Fathers, daughters, and the price of greatness; Aging and the body's veto; Generations and what passes between them

Javier Soto

Carrie's father and coach, a former tennis champion from Argentina who trained her from childhood. He opposes her comeback, then coaches it anyway; the book's emotional core.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Record Falls—Almost; Part 3: Australia Breaks Her, France Saves Her
Themes:: Legacy versus love; The public mask and the private woman; Fathers, daughters, and the price of greatness

Nicki Chan

Young, charismatic Chinese-American star with an attacking game and the crowd's love. She ties Carrie's record, beats her in Australia, and becomes the mirror Carrie finally recognizes herself in.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Record Falls—Almost; Part 2: Wimbledon, Twenty-One; Part 3: Australia Breaks Her, France Saves Her; Part 4: Peace
Themes:: Legacy versus love; Aging and the body's veto; Generations and what passes between them

Bowe Huntley

Charismatic former men's champion with a bad-boy reputation. He becomes Carrie's training partner, confidant, and romantic interest on the tour.

Appears in:: Part 2: Wimbledon, Twenty-One
Themes:: Legacy versus love

Also in the story

Supporting characters

Gwen

Carrie's agent and publicist, one of her few friends, managing the PR wreckage of a comeback the public resents.

Appears in:: Part 2: Wimbledon, Twenty-One
Themes:: Legacy versus love

Todd

The man Carrie is in love with at the novel's end—part of the private life the Battle-Axe persona hid.

Appears in:: Part 4: Peace
Themes:: Legacy versus love

Carrie's mother

The relationship frozen out by Carrie's career and persona; reconciliation with her is part of the ending's peace.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Record Falls—Almost
Themes:: The public mask and the private woman; Fathers, daughters, and the price of greatness; Generations and what passes between them

How they are connected

Key relationships

Javier Soto Carrie Soto
Carrie's father and coach, a former tennis champion from Argentina who trained her from childhood.
Javier Soto Carrie's mother
Carrie's father and coach, a former tennis champion from Argentina who trained her from childhood.
Nicki Chan Carrie Soto
She ties Carrie's record, beats her in Australia, and becomes the mirror Carrie finally recognizes herself in.
Nicki Chan Carrie's mother
She ties Carrie's record, beats her in Australia, and becomes the mirror Carrie finally recognizes herself in.
Bowe Huntley Carrie Soto
He becomes Carrie's training partner, confidant, and romantic interest on the tour.
Bowe Huntley Carrie's mother
He becomes Carrie's training partner, confidant, and romantic interest on the tour.
Gwen Carrie Soto
Carrie's agent and publicist, one of her few friends, managing the PR wreckage of a comeback the public resents.
Gwen Carrie's mother
Carrie's agent and publicist, one of her few friends, managing the PR wreckage of a comeback the public resents.
Todd Carrie Soto
The man Carrie is in love with at the novel's end—part of the private life the Battle-Axe persona hid.
Carrie's mother Carrie Soto
The relationship frozen out by Carrie's career and persona; reconciliation with her is part of the ending's peace.

Go deeper

Carrie Soto Is Back themes & symbols

Legacy versus love · The public mask and the private woman · Fathers, daughters, and the price of greatness · Aging and the body's veto

Themes explained

Read the full Carrie Soto Is Back summary

The full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.

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